...because sometimes that soy chai latte receipt from 2008 is all that's convenient

Friday, December 7, 2012

Jen's Thoughts: Faery Tales & Nightmares by Melissa Marr

Published: February 21, 2012HarperCollins, hardcover, 418 pagesSource: publisherGoodreads Summary:Dangerous promises and beguiling threats swirl together in a dozen stories of enchantments dark and light by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Marr. Uncanny and unexpected creatures appear from behind bushes, rise from beneath the seas, or manifest from seasonal storms to pursue the objects of their attention—with amorous or sinister intent—relentlessly.From the gentle tones of a storyteller’s cadences to the terror of a blood sacrifice, tales of favorite characters from Marr’s Wicked Lovely novels mix with accounts of new characters for readers to fall in love with...or to fear.Lush, seductive, and chilling, Melissa Marr’s stories revel in the unseen magic that infuses the world as we know it.

Anything that Melissa Marr writes is absolute gold to me. I fell in love with the Wicked Lovely series years ago and haven't stopped loving it to this day. When it ended with Darkest Mercy, I bawled. SOBBED. Because I was so happy and sad that it was over and everyone had their ending and it was friggin' beautiful.

And I couldn't get enough of Irial/Leslie/Niall.

Imagine my utter joy when I find out Marr is releasing not one, not two, but 12 short stories in a compilation with a BEAUTIFUL cover. And the majority of the Faery Tales & Nightmares stories? WICKED LOVELY WORLD. How could I get this lucky? Not to mention the story that spawned the series, "The Sleeping Girl and the Summer King." The best part about these stories is the fact that it features some lesser-explored Wicked Lovely characters. I loved seeing more of Gabriel, Sorcha, and Devlin. Especially because while reading the series, I was so enraptured by Seth, Ash, and Keenan. And Niall. And Leslie. And Donia. And Irial. And Irial. And Irial. (Nope. NOT A TYPO.)

Added bonus? Unrelated stories. About vampires and selchies. I can only hope and pray to the book gods that Melissa Marr decides to continue upon that vampire short story because WOW. It was dark and intriguing and twisty, and those three qualities are her forte. Faery Tales & Nightmares is essential for any Wicked Lovely fan. There's really no question about it. You need this book.